File-box and follower



H. C. FOSBERG.

FlLE BOX AND FOLLOWER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-4, NIB. 11,

a SHEETSSHEET H.C. FOSBERG. nu; Bdx AND FOLLOWER.

0 2. 9 1T 1H 14 m H S M m a L M 4" .h P E s D i H m 0 H A C w B1 A N. C. FOSBERG. FILE BOX AND FOLLOWER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 19M. Patenmd 11, -3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED sTATEs IBATENT OFFICE.

HENRY C. FOSBEBG, OF JAMESTOWN. NEW YORK. ASSIGNOR TO ART METAL GONSTBUCTION COMPANY, INC., OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, A CORPORA- T101! OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FILE-BOX AND FOLLOWED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1920.

Application filed September 4, 1918. Serial No. 252.587.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY Fosnnno, a citizen of the United States. residing at Jamestown, in the county of (-hautauquu and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in File-Boxes and Followers. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to filing boxes for papersand documents, and presents certain new and useful improvements on the telescopic or collapsible file box illustrated in my co-pendin application Serial Number 244,953, filed uly 15, 1918.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved collapsible file box having followers of the present invention applied thereto, the right hand half of the figure being taken centrally through the device, and the left hand half ofthe figure being taken at one side of the longitudinal center, the locking dog being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is. a fragmentary sectional view taken transversely t rou h the bottom of the file box and showing t 1e follower in rear elevation.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4: of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of a modification.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the slide or carriage member of the follower.

Fig. 7 is a detail view showfrafigenta 'i a corrugated ttom or the file box.

fore proceeding with a detail description of the follower mechanism, I will first describe generally the collapsible file box to which the present improvements are applied. The box includes telescopic upper and lower sections 1 and 2, respectivel each being formed of sheet metal of suita le wei ht and dimensions, and preferably rectangu or in configuration. The lower section has four sides and a closed bottom, whereas the upper section has four sides and an 0 en bottom.

Throughout the longitudinal middle of the bottom 3, of the lower box section, there is a rectangular depression or channel4, constitutin a guideway for the present follower. he up(per ed e of the lower box section 2 is provi ed wit an external inverted substantially U-shaped and peripheral flange 5 to interfitwith a similar U- aped flange 6 on the bottom of the upper box section 1,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, to limit the upward movement of the box section 1 and prevent separation of the box section.

The upper box section 1 is su ported in its elevated position by means oi sprin supports 7 which underlie thebottom edge of (he uppvr section I to support said section, and are capable of being pushed back into the interior of the lower box section 2 through suitable o enings in said box section so as to clea r the mttom edge of the section 1 and permit lowering of the latter. The .details of this spring support form no part of the plresent inventiodn andare fully qillus' tratei in my ron in an lication erial No. 244,953, p

The present follower includes a body or plate member 8 of a size to fit properly within the lower box section 2 and of a length to extend upwardly into the upper box section. Upon the back of the late is a pair of spaced brackets 9, each 0 which has n flange 10 suitably secured to the part 8, as for instance by spot-welding. Dis (1 between the pair of brackets 9 is a rame member 11 consisting of a metal plate having rearwardly directed flan cs 12 on its upright edges and a rearward y directed bottom flange 13. Vertical flanges 12 are pivoted to the brackets 9 as indicated at 14, whereby the follower 8 ma be tilted upon a horizontal axis as clear y shown at the left hand side of Fig. 1. Each bracket 9 is provided with an inwardly directed shoulder 15 constituting a. stop for engagement with the adjarent flange 12 to limit the tilting movement of the follower body.

The frame ll'is mounted u on a slide or carriage. shown in detail in ig. 6 of the drawings, and includes a cross-head 16, pro-- vide'd at each end with angle side bars 17 depressed below the major )ortion of the cross-head and mounted to s ide in the depression 4. Within the depression 4 is a channel bar 18, having upper inwardly directed flanges 19' overhanging the side bars 17 so as to prevent upward displacement thereof. There is a depending flange 20 at the rear edge of the part 16, and said flange 20 is provided with a central opening 21. The bottom flange 13 of the frame 11 is rigidly secured upon the top of the part 16 of the slide or carriage so as to be rigid therewith.

A locking dog 22 is mounted upon the of which has been a slot 34 receiving the permittin 'rod. Eaci end of each guld port the follower member back of the frame 11, and designed to frictionall engage at its lower edge the up er face 0 the channel bar .19 and lock the '01- lower at any ad'usted position along the length of said ciannel bar. This dog is formed from a single piece of metal and has aflangc 23 upon each of its upright edges. The flanges of the dog embrace upstanding flanges 24, one of which has been shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and each flange A has a pivot projection 25 bent from one edge thereof and received within an opening 26 in the adjacent flange 23 of the locking dog. A spring tongue 27 is struck up from the locking dog and bears against the back of the frame 11 so as to normally hold the locking dog in engagement with the channel bar 18. A handle or finger piece 28 is provided at the bottom of the locking dog, and a looped handle or finger piece 29 is provided upon the back of the frame 11 adjacent and immediately above the locking dog. By placing the thumb in the looped handle 29, the index finger of the hand will be in convenient position to press against the upper portion of the dog 22 to force the same forwardly and release its lower edge from the guideway, whereby the follower as a whole may he slid longitudinally of the file box, by the manipulation of the handle 28 with the other hand.

It will be noted that the follower late 8 is disposed a suitable distance above t 1e bottom of the file box, whereby to accommodate guide rods 30, for use in centering and guiding cards or the like contained in, the file box. Each guide rod is supported at each end in a bracket 31 disposed transversely of the box and provided w th a bottom flange 32 suitabl secured to the bottom of the file box, as by means of fasten- The bracket is provided with a end of the guide rod 'sidewise adjustment of the guide e rod is threaded and provided with a nut 35, whereby the rod may-be rigidly held in any adings 33.

justed position.

For the purposeof maintaining the follower member 8 in a tilted position, there is provided a prop or shown in Fig. 1, and includes a shank 36 hinged at one end to the back of the follower 8, as at 37, and provided with an intermediate shoulder 38, and a handle or finger iece 39 at the free end of the shank. This shank member works throu -h an o ening 40 in the frame 11, so that its shou der 38 may be engaged with the bottomzedge of the opening 40 and sup- 8 in its tilted osition. When in this position, the shoul er 38 engages against the front side of the frame member 11, and the stop members 15 on the brackets 9 engage the rear edges of latch member, one form.

the flanges 12, whereby the tilting of the follower member 8 is limited and said member is effectually held in its tilted position.

A modified form of )rop or catch has been shown in Fig. 5 an consistsof a plate 41 pivoted at 42 to a bracket or clip 43 on the member 8 and working through the opening 10 in the frame 11 and provided with a notch H forming a shoulder to engage the member 11 and support the part 8 in its tilted position.

If desired, the bottom of the box member 2 may be provided with a fabric lining designated 45. A corduroy lining will be found efficient, its purpose being to provide a non skid surface against which the lower edges of the cards, documents or papers may engage when shifted into a tilted position by means of either of the follower members 8. It is preferred to have the ribs of the corduroy lining extend transversely of the box, as clearly indicated in the drawings. The same effect might be accomplished by corrugating the bottom of the box, as indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the prop or catch 36 is at one side of the middle of the frame member 11 so as not to be interfered with by the locking dog 22.

\Vhile only one follower might be used, the papers being confined between the follower and the opposite end of the file box, it is preferred to employ two followers and confine or clamp the pa ers or cards between the two followers, or the reason that it is not altogether satisfactory *to clamp apers or cards against one end of the box in view of the up and down movement of the upper box section in collapsing the box. The plate members 8 of the followers are hinged so as to tilt vertically in order to thereby loosen the cards orrpapers and give convenient access thereto. e collapsibllity of the box gives convenient access to the papers or cards when the upper box section 1 has been lowered.

What I claim is:

1. A follower comprising a slide, a frame rising therefrom a follower plate or leaf,

brackets on the ollower .plate or leaf, pivotal connections between the brackets and the frame, and stops carried by the bracket parts of the frame 1 ing in the paths of the stops to limit the movement of: the follower late or leaf.

2. A fo lower comprisinga slide, a frame rising therefrom, a follower plate or leaf hinged to the frame, and means for supporting the plate or leaf in a tilted position against pivotal movements in opposite directions.

3. A follower comprising a'slide, a frame rising therefrom, a follower plate. or leaf hinged to the frame, and means for supporting the plate or leaf in a tilted position,

said means consisting of a member hin ed to the plate or leaf member, working through an opening in the frame and proone edge of the opening of the follower plate or 4. A follower comprising a slide, a frame. rising therefrom. a follower plate or leaf hingeil to the frame. a stop harried by the plate or leaf and disposed in rear of the frame, a portion of the frame being in the path of the stop for engagement thereby, and memheikin its tilted position with the stop in engagement with the frame.

a prop to maintain the plate, or leaf" 5. A follower comprising a slide, aframe rising therefrom and provided with an opening, or leaf, a bracket upon the plate or leaf and hinged to the frame, a sto carried by the bracket, a portion of the fi'ame being engaged by the stop in a tilted position of the leaf or plate, and a prop hinged to the plate or leaf, working through the opening in the frame and provided with a shoulder for engagement with HENRY o. FOSBERG. 

